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Chasing skirts
Romantic, steamy, graceful, sporty or casual, whatever maybe the look, skirts are in. Short or long, straight or flared, frilly or plain, woolen or khaki, you couldn’t really ask for more. Be it in lengths, cuts, fabrics or accessories, there is something for everyone. We’ve got you a style check on what’s ruling.
The winter chill has brought with it the minis, the most popular being the Burberry checks. Red-green, brown-beige, black-grey and more interesting combinations! At Micky Chhabra-10, you can pick these checked skirts with big buttons for Rs 895 onwards. “For a feminine touch, one can go in for the ones with laces and satin ribbons,” says Micky. A must pick here is a black satin piece for Rs 1,525. And for a delicate look, you can take your pick from the range in nets. Skirts in jute or tweed with embroidered flowers are also a rage. As for keeping yourself warm, team up these teeny weenie skirts with tights. At A & M-17, you have a huge range in tights — single colour, stripes, with bows and elastic variations. Says owner Atipriya, “Denims with plain black tights and knee length skirts in tweed have been very popular.” Skirts in animal and floral prints with crochet belts are priced here at Rs 899 onwards. Layered skirts are also being picked by girls to highlight the curves. At Shelly’s-8 you can take your pick from micro mini skirts in woolen, cotton silk or tweed. Says Shelly, “These are available in two styles — tight from the waist till your belly followed by a flair and the tight body hugging ones.” Pick them up for anywhere between Rs 700 to Rs 1,200. At good old Ten West-10, there are skirts of varying lengths in brocade, raw silk, woolen, denims and more. Team these up with the range of woolen coats, fancy jackets, stylish blouses and sweaters available at the store. The retro fever is surely ruling the fashion scene. There are bags with polka dots or shirts with bold paisley prints. And the trend has influenced skirts too. Extremely feminine, long skirts with pencil slim width makes one look taller. These can be picked from Polka-8. Says owner Payal, “The high-waisted pencil skirts in corduroy, tweed and warm suiting material in pinstripes are the faves with all age groups.” These are priced between Rs 800 and Rs 1,500. Party hoppers are also picking pleated A-line skirts in thicker crepe. So, what are you waiting for? Decide on the look — a retro girl, tomboy or ladylike grace and take your pick.
What’s In Fabric: Raw silk, brocade, tweed, corduroy, cotton silk, denims, satin, khaki. Cuts: A-line, pleated,
balloon, straight. Patterns: Checks, floral prints, stripes, embroidered motifs. Accessories: Butterflies, flowers, buckle belts, bows, buttons, and beads. Footwear: Boots with micro minis, high heels with long skirts.
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Bead It!
Head to Sector 17 and take your pick from the vendors there. Crystals (read glass) in pink, blue and transparent, rudraksh, pearl look alike, knotted chain with big metallic balls, there is a huge choice. And yes, if you’re worried over the quality, then don’t be, for these look smart, high-end and are easy on the pocket too. The range starts from Rs 120 and goes up to Rs 300. Plus, the best part is that the actual price depends entirely on your bargaining skills. Shelly’s Wardrobe-8 is another place that stocks bead necklaces. “We have metallic ones in different colours and also replicas of stones like amber and turquoise,” says Shelly. The price range starts from Rs 350 onwards and most of these are imports from overseas. For those who are ready to shell bigger bucks, head to Jewels-11 and take your pick from a wide selection of kundan, zircon, crystal and metallic beads, including those in pure silver. The price tag reads somewhere between Rs 500 and Rs 18,000. “Beads are very much in demands these days, both from teenagers and young adults,” says Chetan Kumar of Jewels. “Long beaded necklaces which can be wrapped twice or thrice around the neck are in fashion these days,” says Babi Grewal of Babi-8. The fashion designer’s advice is to go for coloured glass beads interspersed with metallic coins. “You can create the nice silhouette look by teaming it up with a western outfit or a plain Indian suit. It adds colour and style to your persona,” she says. Dimpy Gujral, another city-based designer predicts a minimalist look for the year. She says, “Wooden beads in combination with silver and glass ones would dominate the fashion scene. Wear it over a simple tunic and the result is superb.” So, if having to put those layers and layers of clothes to combat the chill is pulling your morale down, you know just what to do —pick up a nice long beaded necklace and jazz yourself up. |
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A zoo well-admired
Having seen the ferocious man-eaters in Guwahati Zoo, most of which were caught by Zia-ur-Rahman, the Jim Corbett of Assam, Chhatbir’s tamed lions and disciplined tigers are quite a change. What left an imprint on my mind during one of my visits to the zoo were tigers making a beeline for their enclosure as the clock struck 5! After all, the government sector works from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. so why should a tiger in a government zoo be any different?
But once the objective of the zoo was made clear to me, it was easier to understand the logic behind the sarkari behaviour of the wildcats. These tigers were born in captivity and grew up following the zoo’s rules and regulations. The very objective of Chhatbir Zoo (Mahendra Chaudhary Zoological Park) which was inaugurated on April 13, 1977, by the then governor of Punjab Mahendra Mohan Chaudhary was to support conservation of endangered species through breeding under captive conditions. Well, the zoo is attractive alright — not just the well-mannered tigers, but the zoo per se. If you are skeptical (newspaper reports have given us enough reasons to be) then we have some interesting comments from its visitor book prove you wrong. The book, the pride and joy of the zoo, boasts comments from former Prime Minister of England James Callaghan and his wife Audrey Callaghan, Shen Jian of Chinese Embassy, Dr V. Gangolle, a wildlife lover from Canada, Naomi Steed, Australian High Commissioner, Dr Hennine Wiesner, Munich Zoo director, Ryszardfijalkowsra, ambassador of Poland and homegrown former chief minister Sardar Darbara Singh. Amminuddin Ahmed, governor Punjab, who visited the zoo on October 20, 1981, was the first person to sign it, with an encouraging comment —“Nice to be in the zoo premises and our discussions for development of the zoo and various functions.” So did then chief minister Darbara Singh, who visited the zoo on January 1, 1982: “I have seen the zoo. It is impressive and needs all out effort for extending facilities for the visitors and more expansion.” We have no idea how much of the suggestions were implemented later, but going through the comments one gets a fairly good idea of the zoo, what it used to be once. The most coveted signatures in the book are of former British Prime Minister James Callaghan and his wife Audrey Callaghan who visited Chhatbir in 1982. He wrote — “Thanks for a most enjoyable visit. I am sure the zoo will become a popular tourist attraction — will deserve to do so.” This was the era, Chhatbir was in its peak of development and the way it was heading impressed even the experts. It can be summerised from Ron Willis who visited the zoo in 1982 — “As I said, I think it looks to be developing into the type of zoo I like. Design of concrete work blends into the surroundings, not too much un-necessary concrete, leaving a lot of press and planted areas.” He had some suggestions too, like laying of a path in such a way that visitors can start at one end and follow a simple distinct route taking them through all parts of the zoo. Director of Munich Zoo, who visited on January 17, 1982, wrote —“Thank you so much for your kind hospitality in your modern and interesting zoological garden.” Then there was Chinese Ambassador Shen Jian who had a strong opinion — “We visited the zoological park with a strong interest. It is not only a place of entertainment for the public but still more a place for people to obtain knowledge.” Coming back to our own dignitaries, Arjun Singh found it ‘a beautiful home for the fauna of our country.’ Singh visited Chhatbir in 1985, when he was the governor of Punjab. Julio Ribeiro found the zoo so interesting that he visited it twice during his tenure, first time on April 4, 1987, when he was the DG, Punjab police, and later on June 5, 1989, when he became the adviser to the governor. By his own admission, “The best zoo I have seen in India.” A sentiment, which was echoed by Baernard Marks from Israel on May 8, 2006, “The pride of the region. This is my third visit to your zoo. Visiting zoos is my hobby and I believe this is one of the finest ones in the world. The animals appear well looked and respected.” Enough to instill a sense of pride in all of us and the initial comparison of the lions and tigers to that of the Guwahati Zoo was relegated into the back of my mind. |
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City buses not so bad!
As a journo some of the queries that I am often bombarded with about my profession are — So do you need to run around throughout the day? Do you have erratic timings? How do you commute?
Well, the reply to the first two questions never invites any trouble, as I tell them that I enjoy the thrill of meeting new people and love my job. But the last question invites a volley of more queries, when I tell them that I commute in local buses. “Is it safe?” I am often asked. Their unbelieving looks reveal their minds when I tell them that buses are indeed safe, secure and most importantly comfortable. Happily listening to songs on the I-pod, a loud shout made me turn around. The conductor was shouting on a person travelling without a ticket. But what I saw pleasantly surprised me. Young school and college girls, working women with their latest cellphones and housewives out for shopping constituted the crowd. I couldn’t help but notice the kindness of the conductor when he helped an old lady board the bus along with her heavy luggage. Chivalry that seems to have lost its meaning in the present world, where women are fighting to equal men in all spheres, is palpable in these buses! Seats are being vacated if a lady is standing, to say the least. Even more astonishing was when one morning I saw a man being chided for having sat on the first seat, for according to rules seat number 1-8 are reserved for women. “Good step,” I thought to myself. But for how long will this new rule, which has been etched on the front wall of the bus, be followed? However, the pleading shouts of the conductor that day and the strict attitude of the driver reveals that it will surely not be a case of raat gayi baat gayi. And make no mistake, officials are not just strict about rules, they are equally strict about morals. Well what would you make of this situation — A bunch of college-going girls getting back home late in the evening and a group of boys, around the same age, together in a tightly packed bus. In most of the cities this situation can spring up horrendous cases of eve teasing. But here, boys are under the strict vigil of the conductor who ensures that no untoward incident occurs. The credit also goes to men — Poor or middle-class, they are decent enough not to tease or embarrass female commuters. But I guess that’s not the only reason why people have their reservations about public transport. The recent cases of Blue Line buses, which went on a killing spree in Delhi, can scare even the bravest. However, “better late than never” seems to be the policy of drivers in city beautiful. They hardly over-speed and are quite considerate of other drivers on road. No unnecessary honking asking cars to pave the way for them. Bus drivers seem no longer the rowdy, uncouth lot they were once thought to be. So for all those who think that the public transport system is not something that should be associated with positive adjectives, I seriously recommend a ride and a perusal through this piece. |
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A noble lot
An eight-year-old responded to her mommie’s hug for the first time and the mother calls it a blessing. Another five-year-old has learnt to brush his teeth. A seven-year old has learnt to smile and say Hello. His friend even drew an apple with colour pencils. Meet the Astha family, where sweets were distributed last week when a three-year-old said Ma seven times in one single day.
This Mohali based family consists of therapists, medical experts, parents, special children and volunteers. And their mission is to strive to make god- gifted special children/individuals independent and spread awareness in the society. An integrated centre that opened early this month, Astha offers services for rehabilitation to autism, cerebral palsy (CP), development delay, learning disability, behaviour problems, communication dysfunctions, neurological conditions and more. And what makes Astha special is that all the efforts here flow from the heart! The dream started taking shape in October this year when Astha’s director Dr. Vasudha Kamra (Masters in occupational therapy and specialisation in neuroscience) felt the need to do something for people of this region. She met a parent (a non-doctor and a director of Astha now) of a three-year-old boy suffering from CP. “They were running from one place to another to understand the disease, forget help,” she recalls. “The term, symptoms and treatment was new and unavailable here,” adds Vasudha. And, this incident was enough to get the parents and medical experts together for the sake of children. A team of occupational therapists, special educators, psychiatrists, speech therapists and parents work, hope and wish here. A child attends one-to-one session with experts in sensory integration therapy, social skills, oral mortar training, physiotherapy and more. Sensory mats, swings, slides and equipments like muscle stimulator, IFT, short wave and more aid their work. So is this curable, we ask, hoping for a reply in affirmation. “Early intervention can help, but not 100 per cent. It also depends on the case, it could be mild, moderate or severe,” says Vasudha. Chips in coordinator Shalini Bhandral, “It’s a struggle but even the tiniest result is enough to keep us going.” Bhandral’s eight-year-old was diagnosed ADHT when she was 2½ years. And, these days the reason behind the smile on Bhandral’s face is that her daughter recently called her mama. Well, there is a lot on their wish list, right from teaching the children to smile to pinpoint at what they want to eat, to more. But one wish that is closest and perhaps a little far for this dedicated team is to get these special children admitted to regular schools. Timings: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Contact them at 9357278997 or 0172-3245343 |
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Luxury at your doorstep
Well, we cannot promise you the old-world countryside charm right in the heart of the city but we can definitely promise you the remote-controlled gates. Yes, most of us who have been fortunate enough to get acquainted to such kind of luxuries abroad, are now bringing back a piece of luxury to their homes. H. S. Dhaliwal of Mohali is one such person who after spending about 20 years of his life abroad got used to the luxury of remote controlled gates. “A remote controlled gate may cost you double that of an ordinary gate, but it’s worth it. One doesn’t need a servant waiting hand and foot for you to return home,” says Dhaliwal. Another proud owner on the outskirts of the city is Ashok Jindal. “My life has become much more comfortable after I installed one of these in my house. It saves you from getting out of the car on cold windy nights and also one doesn’t have to disturb family members either,” says Jindal. And how did he come to know where to get one? “When you built a big house in a small place like Nabha, people from concerned departments just walk up to you,” he smiles. Jindal saw one and just fell for it. And guess what, you do not need to own one of those fancy bungalows to install your remote control gates. A canal house or even a marla house will do if you have the cash. For remote controlled devices come in two forms here — the sliding type and swing type. Tells I. P. Singh, who supplies both the forms in the tricity, more and more people are opting for the swing type, while industrial units and business establishments are going for the sliding one. “Though sliding type is more convenient in the sense that they occupy less space, people here still prefer the swing types,” he says. And as far as money is concerned, an automation system costs about Rs 75,000 to 80,000, which does not include the gate. With the gate, the figure goes up to around Rs 1 lakh, a price that Singh hopes will soon come down and give boon to the total sales figure. Well, even we hope for the day when technology will meet and economy. What it means Total safety: It cannot be opened with any key. If you misplace the remote, do not fret. There is a button with the gate that can open it from inside. Added comfort: One can have an intercom, a CCTV or a video-door phone to verify the identity of the caller. Size matters: Identical pillars with a minimum width of 14X14 inches. Each leaf of the gate should weigh less than 3.5 quintals. Existing gates can also be upgraded. Powered by: You can get a battery back up for Rs 6,000 extra. The gate can also be connected to an existing inverter.
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at lifestyletribune@gmail.com or Life Style, The Tribune, Sector 29-C, Chd I am 26 years old, working in a ship as an engineer. I do not have job satisfaction. In fact, I have not been happy with my life ever since I got into this job. I feel lethargic. There is nothing about this job that holds my interest anymore. But when I go home on vacations, I teach kids and I feel a sense of satisfaction. I am confused. What is the solution? Sukhdeep Dhillon,
Mohali Stop fretting so much. You have allowed depression to take over and wallowing in self-pity. Change your thinking and everything will change automatically. It has become a fashion to live in a level of discontentment. Why are we constantly running after things we do not have? Materialism has started to have too much meaning in our lives. Find happiness in whatever you do and hang on to that feeling. You have to guide your ship to happier waters. Focus on a goal, which you might have had as a kid. Even tiny acts of kindness can give you a feeling of fulfillment. I am a 42-year-old man, married for the past 15 years and have 2 children. My entire life has been spent in litigation over the properties that my family owns and I have no relationship whatsoever which I can call meaningful. My sister and my brother do not talk to me. My wife and my kids also prefer to stay away. I had taken to drinking earlier but after my doctor’s advice I slowed down. My life feels empty and meaningless. What should I do? Sameer
Suri, Chandigarh It requires a lot of courage and strength to come out and accept your problems. I feel you have taken the first step towards sorting your life. Life is what we make of it. Looks like you have a lot of childhood issues to resolve. Visit a counselor. Finding a meaning in life is of utmost importance. Since you have a wife and kids, it would be good if you improve your relationship with them. Slowly, as things start sorting themselves out, you will start seeing a purpose to your life. I am a 32-year-old single woman. I have been through one failed marriage and now I shy away from all relationships. I find it very difficult to deal with a man. The moment I get close in a relationship, I want to run away. I am afraid of getting hurt and my fear is not letting me concentrate on my job. I feel life is really not worth living. How do I get rid of my pain? Sucheta Mehta,
Ambala City You are allowing yourself to be a victim of your own fear. Life has so much to offer if you allow your mind to step out of its little boundaries. These are the limitations we set upon ourselves due to our social conditioning. Why should you be afraid of having a new relationship? All men are not the same and you cannot go through similar experiences unless you allow your-self to attract people of same nature. Change your attitude. Look for happiness with a positive attitude and you will find it. Learn to love your-self and you will find acceptance and love from others too.
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Exhi-Watch
Ruling is their range of solitaires. From rings to strings to earrings to even loose pieces, all are on offer here. If you are ready to take home, say a pair of solitaire earrings, you’ll have to shell out something like Rs 1 lakh and above. Broad bracelets in diamonds and precious or semi-precious stones are priced at Rs 50,000 onwards. A sleek pair of bangles too can be picked for the same price. Besides the usual floral and geometric patterns in pendants, they’ve brought a range of idol-inspired designs with Ganesha, Krishna, Shiva, Hanuman and many more. A Krishna pendent in gold and white gold would cost one Rs 12,000. For all brides-to-be, the exhibitors have got special bridal jewellery sets. An exotic piece in rubies is priced at Rs 5 lakh. In earrings there are tops, danglers and half bali cut. Nose pins can be picked up for as less as Rs 900. There is also a huge variety of Hasli chains. Plus, there are cocktail rings for women and also rings for men priced at Rs 10,000 onwards. To lure customers, they have a buy-back and exchange policy and also gift hampers on purchases of Rs 12, 000 onwards. On today, at Shivalik View-17
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“When it comes to traditional shawls, people still prefer the regular patterns,” says Rita Singh of Vastra. But they do come with a good selection for the ones looking for something new, like multi-coloured stripes and checks, which are in vogue these days. Though price tags for the pure Pashminas and Jaamawars read something to the tune of Rs 18,000 and Rs 20,000, it goes up to Rs 1 lakh for the Kaani shawls. However, on offer are an affordable range of semi Pashminas that start from Rs 1,000 onwards and Kalmi shawls with ink embroidery for Rs 4,000 and above.
— TNS At Aroma-22, till January 7
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Matka Chowk
The guidebooks on European vacations always urge you to visit the famous plazas or rather piazzas as the Italians call them. The piazzas are the throbbing life centre of French or the Italian towns, replete with overfed pigeons, babies in strollers, young lovers, tourists with cameras, and vendors selling crepes or gelato. However, if you stand in front of the Sector 17 fountain on any chilly night in the festive season, you too can find enough to write about. The city talents are on air in the evening. You can actually hear some good music or watch decent bhangra while licking a butterscotch ice-cream. A friend of mine who was visiting from Calcutta could not get over the fact that this was all free – by the citizens and for the citizens. If you have no New Year’s party to go to and don’t want to watch a bad Hindi movie on TV while eating Maggie, you can hit the Plaza for flavours of a citywide carnival. And of course, the shopping that goes on all around you – is quite effusive and joyous – keeping with the spirit of the season. I saw ladies going in for sandals first, followed by suits and sweaters – finishing with bracelets from the roadside vendors. They seemed indefatigable. Even in the popcorn line that seemed impenetrable, they made headway before any able-bodied man could. For those, who lack the physical gusto, there are roadside vendors selling used books. You could get the same Kiran Desai at a fraction of the store price. You could buy music at the ever popular and ever crowded Music World – squeezing through the narrow aisles and absorbing the pushes and the elbowing in the true spirit of the night. Nobody else seems to mind! Chandigarh has been reported to be the city with the highest per capita income in the past year. I can vouch for the shopping fever that has been unprecedented. The lines have gotten longer. Line lagao is a mantra now – whether you are buying samosas or sarees – does not matter. I went to the neighbourhood sweet store the other day and waited in a line to get pakoras. I went to a supermarket and waited over fifteen minutes for the lines to move. I went to buy flowers and waited while they wrapped one order after another. I went to get a haircut and was turned down for I had no appointment – the place looked like a bazaar. Chak de shopping!
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Halle’s desperation
Actress Halle Berry has revealed that she is desperate to act with Oscar-winner Denzel Washington. The 41-year-old star said she would love to work with Washington if a right script comes her way.
And it seems quite convinced that the pair will team up for a film in the future. “I still want to work with Denzel Washington. I’m hoping that one day the right script will come along and Denzel will give me a call,” she said. The Monster Ball star won the Academy Award for her role in the film along with Washington who picked up the best actor for Training Day in the same ceremony.
— ANI |
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First Day First Show
It has an awfully simple and swift moving plot that is easy to follow and enjoy. Most scenes advance the plot and through the plot one could see the characters. The highlight of the film, of course, is the bears. The fight scenes between Ivan and humans are amazingly well done. Many of the visuals transport one to a beautiful alternate world. There are many times when one can feel the exhilaration and adventure the main character was presumably feeling. A 12-year-old orphan (Richards) sets off on a perilous journey to an Artic wasteland to rescue her kidnapped friend. She’s accompanied by a mysterious blonde (Kidman) who might be involved in subjecting children to a cruel experiment that will result in the abolition of free will. The plucky, pint-sized girl also encounters her scientific explorer uncle (Daniel Craig, dapper as ever), a couple of megalomaniac zealots (Christopher Lee-Derek Jacobi) and a sky-trotting Texan (Sam Elliott). Nicole Kidman looks beautiful but her acting skills have not been fully exploited. But the show stealer is the charismatic British newcomer, Dakota Blue Richards, who delivers a performance of remarkable maturity, a la Darsheel Safary in Taare Zameen Par. On the whole, a good escapist movie. If you are looking for a delicious two-hour fantasy voyage, this is it. But, don’t compare it with The Lord of the Rings series or The Chronicles of Narnia. The film is rated PG-13 (parents strongly cautioned). Some intense scenes involve children in danger and warfare between bears and humans.
— TNS Showing at: Fun Republic |
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IF you happen to be a regular visitor at the Lajpat Rai Bhawan-15 or Panchayat Bhawan-18 then you know which stalls pull the maximum crowd — the ones from Jaipur that sell bead necklaces. And, looking at a majority of FTV models sporting long ones, including our much-revered rudraksh, it is indeed difficult for our hip and happening city crowd to resist the temptation to own one.
AS the car meanders through the narrow road to an imposing palatial house, the man behind the wheel stretches out his hand and presses a button on a device. The gate opens automatically, the woman sitting next to him is all awe-struck. Could be a scene from one of those ‘rich guy meets poor girl and falls in love’ Mills & Boons novels, with never-ending narration of English countryside mansion equipped with modern gadgets that give a taste of both the old-world charm and modernity.
CALLING all diamond lovers, here’s your chance to get bedazzled by the brilliance of the stone at the ongoing OTM Mega Exhibition-cum-sale. The Delhi-based brand has brought a complete range of diamond jewellery — rings, bracelets, pendants, necklace sets and bangles. The BIS certified collection is priced between Rs 2,000 to Rs 7 lakh.
THIS New Year may be bringing a lot of chills but along with it are coming the remedies. Like Vastra from Amritsar and S.A. Pashmina from Srinagar. They have brought a lot of colourful and expensive shawls to combat the cold. Here is a wide range of Kaani, Pashmina and Jaamawar shawls that cater to the taste of both the modern and conservative stylist. Like for those who want to stick to the tradition, there are pure Pashminas with motifs from Mughal art, Kashmiri embroidery in Jaamawars and jaal and border works in both pure and semi Pashminas.
Chandigarh loves to shop. I have not seen too many cities, where people find any merry day an occasion to shop. The shopping that starts with Dussehra and goes on till the New Year. Sector 17 turns into a virtual mela.
IF you like fantasy movies, this one is for you. It is a fable set in a parallel 19th century-like world infested with witches, demons and a caboodle of chatty critters.